New Delhi: With only six applications received after the first call for admission in last Nov, Delhi govt has reopened the application process for Atal Drishti Girls’ Hostel in Timarpur, hoping to attract more students to the residential facility meant for visually impaired girls pursuing higher education in the city.The hostel, run by the department of social welfare, was set up for those unable to secure seats in college hostels and face a lack of accessible and secure accommodation close to their colleges.Students were earlier given 30 days to apply after the first notification was uploaded on Nov 21. With the response remaining muted, the department has now extended the admission window till March 30. “Lack of awareness could be one of the reasons for the low number of applications,” sources said.Under existing guidelines, only unmarried women who are totally blind, bona fide residents of Delhi, and up to 25 years of age are eligible to apply. Students who are partially blind, enrolled in correspondence or evening courses, have completed MA and are pursuing programmes like MPhil, PhD, BEd, LLB, or other postgraduate or professional courses are not covered under the scheme. However, blind daughters of govt or defence personnel posted outside Delhi may be considered, depending on the availability of seats in the hostel.Applicants must pass Class XII from a recognised board or complete graduation from a college affiliated with University of Delhi. Admission is granted following an interview conducted by a committee, whose decision is final. Selected candidates are required to deposit a refundable caution amount of Rs 500 or submit a surety bond of the same value.The hostel primarily provides boarding facilities, including food and bedding. Residents must apply for re-admission each academic year before the start of the new session, in accordance with the hostel’s rules and conditions.Constructed at over Rs 13 crore, the hostel was inaugurated last Sept during the observance of Seva Pakhwada. The four-storey facility has a capacity of around 96 residents and was designed with barrier-free features and accessible infrastructure for its special residents.Officials said govt is examining whether the eligibility criteria need to be revisited. According to sources, the number of students who fall strictly under the category of 100% visually impaired may be limited, and there may be cases where women with other severe disabilities also require residential support while studying in the city.Delhi social welfare minister Ravinder Indraj Singh earlier indicated that govt was considering reviewing the norms to ensure that the facility benefits a larger pool of students.
